Uli Hoeneß began his last speech as FC Bayern president with words of thanks. "I'd like to thank the team for paving the way for a great Annual General Meering," said Hoeneß. In addition to Bayern's 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund last Saturday, the basketballers' victory over Alba Berlin "ensured a nice weekend for the Hoeneß family."
Hoeneß then looked back on his 49 years at the German record champions: from his beginnings as a world-class forward, who became general manager aged 27 and turned FC Bayern into a global brand with sound management practices. "We never did crazy things but played successfully very often," Hoeneß declared. In addition to numerous titles, the number of "293,000 members as of now" and the Allianz Arena as "the most beautiful stadium in the world" prove that FC Bayern is in outstanding shape.
It was very important to Hoeneß that a suitable successor as president has been found in former adidas chairman Herbert Hainer. It is "a wonderful thing for the club," the 67-year-old declared. The same goes for Oliver Kahn, who is set to succeed Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as FC Bayern chairman and CEO in the near future. Hoeneß told the future generation leading the club to be "strong together." If so, "nobody will beat FC Bayern on a national scale, and very few clubs will be able to do it on the international stage."
The outgoing president was hailed by more than 6,000 members at the Annual General Meeting, who applauded again and again during his speech. When Hoeneß bade farewell with the words, "It was a wonderful time! That's it, ich habe fertig [I'm finished, quoting former FCB coach Giovani Trappatoni]," he was greeted with a standing ovation from the members. A chant rang out at the Olympic Hall again and again: 'Uli Hoeneß, you're the best!'
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